Other views: Retain same-day voter registration

A recent report from the state's Government Accountability Board pegs the cost of eliminating same-day voter registration at $14.5 million. That alone should be enough to convince backers of such a move to back away from the issue.

We support Election Day registration, not only because getting rid of it would cost so much, but because it allows more people to vote. In a democratic society, we should be encouraging people to vote, not putting up roadblocks.

The issue arose in November when Gov. Scott Walker was speaking in California. He mentioned that he would support ending the practice. He then backtracked on it in December when costs estimates came in at about $5 million.

Since then the GAB has looked into it and come up with a $14.5 million price tag.

Same-day voter registration has been used in Wisconsin since 1976. With Election Day registration in place, the state has been exempt from some federal regulations that would kick in if that exemption is removed or modified.

Specifically, the state would have to offer voter registration at Department of Motor Vehicle offices as well as at agencies that offer federal or state public assistance or help people with disabilities. Agencies affected would include the state departments of Transportation, Health Services, Children and Families, and Workforce Development.

Plus, according to the report, the loss of the exemption would "significantly increase" the number of provisional ballots that clerks would have to issue on Election Day. Federal law would require same-day provisional ballots at the polls, a "more complex and time-consuming" process for election officials.

If polling places are seeing only 10 to 15 percent of the voters registering or updating their registration on Election Day, does that warrant such a huge change in how people vote?

Also, same-day registration does not slow the process and create lines, according to the "2012 Presidential Election Report" prepared by Wisconsin Election Protection, which bills itself as a nationwide, nonpartisan coalition, though the roster of organizations that are part of it definitely leans left.

The non-partisan Wisconsin Municipal Clerks Association in December issued a resolution stating that it "opposes the elimination of Election Day registration because it is not in the best interest of the voters, municipalities or the integrity of election administration."

Voting is a right and democratically held elections are what separate us from other nations in which citizens have less of a say in how government operates. The state should not make it onerous for people to exercise that right.

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Other views: Retain same-day voter registration

A recent report from the state's Government Accountability Board pegs the cost of eliminating same-day voter registration at $14.5 million. That alone should be enough to convince backers of such a

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